Controversy Over One Candidate For Lafayette Parish Sheriff
UPDATE: Sheriff's candidate Mark Garber will join KPEL on air this morning at 7:10 a.m. to discuss the issue. He also plans to bring veterans who support him to express their thoughts on the issue.
Mark Garber is a candidate for Sheriff of Lafayette Parish, but some local military veterans are not happy with how he has presented himself in some cases according to an article in the Lafayette Daily Advertiser by Claire Taylor.
Mark Garber did receive a Bronze Star medal for his interrogation work during a four month period in 2006 in Iraq, but Garber was serving as an interrogator only and has not served in the military.
Garber told the Daily Advertiser, "I have never, ever claimed to be a military veteran." But, he has stood up twice at events where veterans were asked to rise to honored.
KPEL-FM has reached out to Mark Garber for comment. We are waiting on his return call.
Deron Santiny was interviewed by the Advertiser, and he says Garber stood up with military veterans at a Friends of the National Rifle Association banquet.
Santiny thinks it was disrespectful to do so, and he thinks Garber should withdraw from the race.
Veteran Daniel Bentley, who heads up the American Legion Post 69 in Lafayette, says while Garber's actions were commendable, he is not a veteran and should apologize.
The Advertiser says last week Garber's website for his and attorney C. Ray Murry's website stated: "Mr. Garber and Mr. Murry are military veterans."
The Advertiser reports the website was changed Thursday of last week after the statement was brought to Garber's attention.